Starting up a dead comet

I let my comet die--it was running just fine and then I stopped driving it. I'd like to get it going again so I can get it onto a moving van without hiring a towtruck (although that might be easier and cheaper...). This car has sat for about 9 years, and hasn't been started in 6. I'm not especially a mechanic--an oil change is about it--so I don't know if this is something I should attempt myself. Battery, gasoline, I can do those. What else?

Should I just have it towed to a shop so I don't have to hear the noise it's going to make?


Should I include it with the snowthrower as an incentive to buy my house?

Thanks for any advice!

 

yeah oil change , gas is prolly little stale, spark plugs, wires, fuel filter , dizzy cap and rotor

 

if you want to be extra cautious, you can by foggin oil that is used for winterizing. spray that in each cylinder before changing the oil and let it sit a day or two. leave the plugs outbecause after the couple of days you want to turn the engine over without them to get the excess fluid out, too much fluid in a cylinder can bend rods and valves. if you let it soak it should break up the oxidation that has built up while the engine is sitting enough that it isnt as hard on your rings. everythin eddie said and maybe new transmission fluid if looks dirty.

 

Thanks y'all. I'm beginning to think I'm not going to have time to do this before I move. The spouse would sure love to see me dump this car...heh heh heh...

 

show him the pictures section

 

If you are just putting it in a moving van, put a battery in it, start it up and drive it into the van. If it's been sitting in a garage, old gas is about the only thing you are going to have to worry about. I have started cars that have been sitting ALOT longer then 6 years to drive them onto trailers and stuff. If you are really that worried about it, pull the spark plugs and give a quick shot of PB Blaster in each cylinder. Then roll the motor over a few times before starting it.

It will probably spit and sputter from the old gas, but you aren't going to hurt anything just driveing it a few feet.

 

I think that's what I did the last time we moved--it had only been sitting a few years at that point with the occasional startup (I'm starting to feel really guilty about this!) and it smoked up a storm when we finally drove it into the moving van. With the economy the way it is these days, the company will probably make us use a car carrier this time. Maybe that'll be easier.

I think I'll put air in the tires this time, too!

 

i started up a maverick that had sat for 10 years no problem. just poured some gas in the tank (the line was broken and it all drained out). and put in a batterie the thing started right up. ran pretty good for needing an oil change and a carb rebuild. put that engine in my car and ran it the way it was for almost a year. before i needed some thing bigger of course.

 

It took some Sea Foam gas additive, a bottle of Marvel's mystery oil, a good battery charging and we were driving it around the block. Amazing because the gas was bad.

 

Does it use points in the distributor? you will need a fresh set of points and a condenser.The additional items that were already mentioned - plugs and wires, cap and rotor. A bit of ATF or Marvel Mystery oil in the cylinders for as long as you can let it set before you put spark plugs in it. Check ALL the fluid levels; ATF, OIL, COOLANT and POWER STEERING FLUID. Turn it over a few times to remove the excess oil in the cylinders and to loosen everything up. Either put a good charge on the battery or get a new one - don't leave it connected while transporting the car. That way it will still have a good charge on it when you get where you are going and will be able to start it again.

 

I've started cars that sat for 20 years just by cleaning the points and putting some fresh gas down the carb. Pull a plug wire & crank it to see if its getting spark. If its getting spark, a little gas and it will start.

 

Sarah has already bought the car, got it home, fired it up and drove it around the neighborhood. Another one saved.

 

Yep, like Craig said, this is all it took. It had great spark and away we went. That is even with charging its battery that sat connected in it for 6 years. It even idles nice. Today, it gets a radiator flush, a fuel filter, transmission fluid, oil and filter, and then on to the steering tightening. So, now 3 of my 5 run and drive, that's not too bad is it?

 

See? Nothing wrong with it a little love couldn't fix! I'll miss it, but (sob) it's in a better place now.